Depression Treatment: Using Self-Guided Treatment Software (EPST) to Teach Clinicians How to Deliver Problem-Solving Treatment for Depression.

Using Self-Guided Treatment Software (ePST) to Teach Clinicians How to Deliver Problem-Solving Treatment for Depression.

Filed under: Depression Treatment

Depress Res Treat. 2012; 2012: 309094
Cartreine JA, Chang TE, Seville JL, Sandoval L, Moore JB, Xu S, Hegel MT

Problem-solving treatment (PST) offers a promising approach to the depression care; however, few PST training opportunities exist. A computer-guided, interactive media program has been developed to deliver PST electronically (ePST), directly to patients. The program is a six-session, weekly intervention modeled on an evidence-based PST protocol. Users are guided through each session by a clinician who is presented via hundreds of branching audio and video clips. Because expert clinician behaviors are modeled in the program, not only does the ePST program have the potential to deliver PST to patients but it may also serve as a training tool to teach clinicians how to deliver PST. Thirteen social workers and trainees used ePST self-instructionally and subsequently attended a day-long workshop on PST. Participants’ PST knowledge level increased significantly from baseline to post-ePST (P = .001) and did not increase significantly further after attending the subsequent workshop. Additionally, attending the workshop did not significantly increase the participants’ skill at performing PST beyond the use of the ePST program. Using the ePST program appears to train novices to a sufficient level of competence to begin practicing PST under supervision. This self-instructional training method could enable PST for depression to be widely disseminated, although follow-up supervision is still required.
HubMed – depression

Mothering here and mothering there: international migration and postbirth mental health.

Filed under: Depression Treatment

Obstet Gynecol Int. 2012; 2012: 593413
Bouris SS, Merry LA, Kebe A, Gagnon AJ

Over 125,000 women immigrate to Canada yearly-most in their childbearing years and many having given birth before immigrating. We sought to (1) examine the background characteristics and mental health profile of women separated from their children due to migration and subsequently giving birth in Canada (“dual-country (DC) mothers”) and (2) contrast these with those of “non-dual-country” migrant mothers. Of 514 multiparous migrant women giving birth, one-fifth (18%) reported being separated from their children due to migration. Over one-third of DC mothers were living in poverty (36.0% versus 18.6%, P = 0.001), and one in seven was experiencing household food insecurity (16.3% versus 7.6%, P = 0.01). Over one-third had no partner (40.2% versus 11.4%, P = 0.00), and nearly one-quarter reported no available support (23.1% versus 12.2%, P = 0.007). Over three-quarters were asylum seekers or refugees (83.7% versus 51%, P = 0.00). More DC than non-DC mothers had symptoms of postpartum depression (28.3% versus 18.6%, P = 0.04), symptoms of clinical depression (23.1% versus 13.5%, P = 0.02), and anxiety related to trauma (16.5% versus 9.4%, P = 0.04). Results suggest that identifying DC mothers is a rapid approach to enable clinicians to target a subgroup of women needing special attention.
HubMed – depression

Inhibitory effects of pretreatment with radon on acute alcohol-induced hepatopathy in mice.

Filed under: Depression Treatment

Mediators Inflamm. 2012; 2012: 382801
Toyota T, Kataoka T, Nishiyama Y, Taguchi T, Yamaoka K

We previously reported that radon inhalation activates antioxidative functions in the liver and inhibits carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatopathy in mice. In addition, it has been reported that reactive oxygen species contribute to alcohol-induced hepatopathy. In this study, we examined the inhibitory effects of radon inhalation on acute alcohol-induced hepatopathy in mice. C57BL/6J mice were subjected to intraperitoneal injection of 50% alcohol (5?g/kg bodyweight) after inhaling approximately 4000?Bq/m(3) radon for 24?h. Alcohol administration significantly increased the activities of glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT) in serum, and the levels of triglyceride and lipid peroxide in the liver, suggesting acute alcohol-induced hepatopathy. Radon inhalation activated antioxidative functions in the liver. Furthermore, pretreatment with radon inhibited the depression of hepatic functions and antioxidative functions. These findings suggested that radon inhalation activated antioxidative functions in the liver and inhibited acute alcohol-induced hepatopathy in mice.
HubMed – depression

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